Adjustment for running registers



Feb. 2, 1943. cfJAcoBsoN 2,309,646

ADJUSTMENT FOR RUNNING REGISTERS I Filed Sept. 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1943. c, JACOBSON 2,309,546

ADJUSTMENT FOR RUNNING REGISTERS Filed Sept. 29, 1939 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1943. c. JACOBSON 4 2,309,646

ADJUSTMENT FOR RUNNING REGISTERS Filed Sept. 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H mm x ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1943 2,309,646 ADJUSTMENT FOR RUNNING REGISTERS Charles Jacobson, New York, N. Y., assignor to S. & S. CorrugatedPaper Machinery Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation 01' New York Application September 29, 1939, Serial No. 297,052

4 Claims.

This invention is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 222,166,- filer; July 30, 1938, and relates generally to a running register for printing mechanisms.

It has its most important use in connection with machines which treat advancing sheet material by means of operating mechanisms which should be adjusted relatively to each other so that a desired registry of operations on the sheet may be continuously maintained.

In machines for multi-colored printing, slotting and similar operations, it is necessary that a complete accuracy be obtained between different correlated parts or dies that operate in conjunction with one another upon material to be printed or colored. In addition to operations that involve multi-colored or colored printing, this accuracy is further a primary requisite in those operations which entail printing in conjunction with slotting or any similar operations.

The primary essential of machines for making adjustments in operations of this kind is that the adjustment be made without interrupting the constant movement of the machine and also that the adjustment be made without interrupting the main power line from the power source to the operating part.

One method by which linear adjustment of the operating mechanisms of this naturemay be made is that in which by means of a gear train circumferentially arranged about the axis of the power shaft, an additional movement may be imparted to the operating drum which will tend to readjust this drum to the desired timing necessaryfor registry. Such additional movement may be cumulative, that is, in the direction opposite to the rotation-of the drum and therefore adding to the speed of rotation thereof, or it may be in the direction of rotation of the drum and therefore tend to decrease the speed thereof.

Various advantages of this type of adjustment have been described in my co-pending application above mentioned. of which this case is a division.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple adjustment by means of a worm and spiral gear combination which causes the principal gear connection from the power shaft to the operating or drive shaft of the drum itself to rotate either in the direction of rotation of the mechanism or in a direction opposite thereto and thus tend to change the speed of the drum accordingly.

Various methods may, however, be used for obtaining a running register so that the operation of, for instance, printing need not be interfered with during the adjustment and so that the adjustment may immediately be made whenever the necessity therefor is recognized. Thus, instead of momentarily increasing or decreasing the speed of the drum for the purpose of causing said drum to register accurately with the printed matter upon the sheet, a slight displacement of the axis of the drum in accordance with the deviation from registry and in a direction tending to correct such deviation from registry will accomplish the same purpose.

Accordingly, another object of this invention is the provision of a method and means whereby the drum may be moved slightly parallel to its own axis in the direction of or opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet in order to obtain a readjustment of the registry to the degree necessary to maintain the predetermined alignment.

Other objects and uses of this invention will be pointed out in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a cross-sectional view illustrating the worm-spiral gear adjustment to obtain an accurate registry of the drum during the operation. v

Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically the modified method for obtaining a running adjustment of registry by means of displacement of the axis of the drum.

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically a modification of the method of displacement of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a machine embodying the form of adjustment set forth in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view'taken along the line 55 of Figure 6.

'Figure 6 is a sectional top plan view taken along the line 66 of Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure l. I have here shown an operating drum 25 mounted on a shaft 88. From a suitable power source, drive is imparted through a gear 8| to a cluster gear 82--83. The cluster gear 82-83 rotates on middle bearing 84 which is mounted on the housing 85. The gear 83 intermeshes with the gear 84 which has extended hub 85' on which is mounted a gear 86. The hub 85' is suitably mounted in ball bearing mountings as shown. The gear 86 mounted on the hub 85' meshes with a gear 8! keyed to the shaft by means of the key 88. Thus what has just been described is the power line through which the initial source of power is transmitted to effect a rotation of the shaft 80 and consequently the drum 25.

To effect now the desirable linear adjustment of the rotating drum 25 without interfering with its constant rotation. I employ a worm operated by a motor 04. The worm 90 engages the spiral gear 9| fixedly mounted by means of the screw 92 on the housing 93. The housing 93 encloses the hub 85' and the gear 86, and is adapted to carry these gears in a rotary movement with respect to the shaft 80. As can be seen, any rotary movement of the housing and hence of the gear 84' and gear 86 mounted in hub 85' eflects a corresponding advancing or retarding of the operating drum 25. Hence to effect an advancing or retarding of the drum 25 1 effect by means of the motor 94 a rotation of the worm gear 9i and hence of the housing 93. I effect the necessary adjustment of drum 25 by means of the wheel I00 which rotates in contact with the fixed bearing IOI mounted on the bracket I02. Rotation of the wheel I00 effects a longitudinal movement of the screw I03 which movement is transmitted through the ball bearing adapter I04 and the ball bearings I05 to the shaft 80. The longitudinal movement of the shaft 80 does not interfere with its rotary movement inasmuch as the gear 81 rides back and forth in the gear 86.

Thus there can be effected both a longitudinal and linear adjustment of drum 25 during its rotation without interrupting the operation of the machine.

Where it is not desired to resort to a momentary or permanent change in the speed of the drum by means of the combination of worms and spiral gear and the rotation of the housing, I may resort to a modified method involving the movement of the drum parallel to its axis in the direction of or opposite to the direction of travel of the advancing sheet material, thus resulting in an advancing or retarding of the printing operation or slotting operation or of any other operation which at the time is progressing upon the sheet, the said sheet traveling at a constant speed. This modification is indeed the simplest possible method for performing this operation and results in a far more accurate and convenient alignment.

The operation herein indicated is set forth in Figure 2 which illustrates the arrangements of two printing units 200 and 2M and the appropriate feed rollers therefor. The advancing sheet material 202 is fed to the roller 200 by means of the feed rollers 203 and 204. The plate 205 of the roll 200 is pressed upon the sheet 202, the idler 206 providing the necessary support beneath the sheet. Thereafter the sheet 202 is fed onwardly by the feed rolls 201 and 208 to the printing drum 20I where the plate 209 thereof is impressed upon the sheet, the idler 2"! providing a support against which the sheet may be pressed. Where for instance, a two color printing process is performed by the rolls 200 and 20I, it is clear that accurate registry must at all times be maintained. The slightest misalignment will result in a misalignment of the colored matter impressed upon the sheet and thus tend to destroy the effect which is to be created. Accordingly, should the plate 205 of the roll 200 make its impression slightly in advance of or slightly in back of the impression made subsequently by the roll 20I, a confusing jumble will result.

Accordingly, when in the operation of the machine, it is found that the roll 200 or the roll 20I is making its impression at .a slightly different area than intended then by means of the adjustments herein described. the roll may be moved longitudinally with relation to the sheet so that the impression will be made at the proper area and the misalignment corrected.

For this invention, therefore, it is important that the axis of the roll be moved to a. slightly different but parallel position while the roll or drum nevertheless properly maintains the contact with the sheet at least during the printing processes.

Accordingly, as seen in Figure 2, drum 20I is shown in the normal position supported in bearings at 2 suspended from hangers indicated by the line 2I2. The hangers 2I2 are pivotable at the point 2I3, a suitable method being provided for causing the said hanger to pivot when desired at that point.

When, as seen in the case of drum 200, the hanger 2I2 has been rotated about the pivot 2I3 away from the dotted line 2 I2" to the position indicated by the solid line, a readjustment of the drum has been effected so that it will print in a slightly retarded area of the sheet and thus be aligned with any change which may have been effected during the movement of the sheet This angular movement of the axis 2I2' causes the moment of the contact to be retarded. Obviously, a swinging of the axis in the opposite direction would advance the moment of contact.

In Figure 3, virtually the same type of operation is disclosed except that instead of showing the movement of the axis of the drum as a swinging movement about a point outside the drum the entire drum is itself adjustable hori zontally longitudinally along the line of movement of the sheet 202. The sheet 202 is in this case again fed through the rollers 303, 304 to the first drum 300, the idler 306 furnishing an appropriate support for the sheet against the drum.

The sheet is thereafter fed by the rollers 301 and 308 to the drum 30I, the idler 3I0 furnishing appropriate support thereat. As seen in the case of drum 300, a horizontal longitudinal movement of the entire drum from the position indicated by the dotted lines 300 to the position indicated by the solid lines and correspondingly therefore a movement of the axis 3I2 from the position indicated by the dotted lines 3I2' will result in the same type of adjustment of the drum.

For this purpose it is clear that the only necessity will be an advancing or retarding of the shaft upon which the drum rotates. One method by which the operation set forth in Figure 2 may be accomplished is shown in the views of Figures 4, 5 and 6. In this case, the drum 200 is mounted on the shaft 2 which is supported by the ball bearings MI in the housing 402. Housing 402 is pivotally mounted upon the stud 403 which is securely mounted on the printing press frame 404. Stud 403 also carries gear 405 which rotates thereon on the ball bearings 406 and which brings the power through appropriate gears to the gear 401 which is keyed onto the printing shaft 2| I.

A rotating handle wheel 408 is keyed to and rotates a shaft 408 carrying a worm 0 which meshes with a spiral gear 4 mounted on the shaft 4 I 2. The shaft 2 is keyed to the cam 3 which carries the link 4. The opposite end of the link 4 is pivotally connected by the pin 5 to the housing 402. Rotation of the handle 40! will result in corresponding rotation of the shaft 409 which through the gearsllO and 4 will result in rotation of the cam 3 which through the link All and its connecting pin M5 will result in a corresponding movement of. the housing 402 and thereforea movement of the shaft 2 as shown and described in Figure 2.

' In each case, it will be noted that the advance or retardation of the drum is usually so slight as to require no corresponding similar movement of the support rollers. Should any greater movement however be required, then corresponding members may likewise be used to guide and adjust the support rollers as well.

I have here described certain important embodiments of my invention. Various other arrangements within the spirit of my invention will now be obvious. I prefer, therefore, to be limited not by the specific disclosures herein but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A running adjustment means for a driven shaft adapted to be rotated-by a driving gear comprising a driving connection, between said gear and said shaft, means for advancin and retarding said shaft without axial displacement thereof, said means comprising a housing surrounding and concentric with said shaft; a second gear rotatable on a bearing surrounding said housing and in engagement with said drivin gear, said second gear being in driving engagement with a third gear carried within said housing, said third gear being in driving engagement wth a gear mounted on said shaft; said housing being rotatable; means for rotating said housing whereby the speed of rotation of the shaft is a component of the speed of the driving gear and the rotational speed of the housing.

2. A running adjustment means for a driven shaft adapted to be rotated by a driving gear comprising a driving connection between said gear and said shaft, means for advancing and retarding said shaft without axial displacement thereof,

) said means comprising a housing surrounding and concentric with said shaft; a second gear mounted on and surrounding said housing and rotatable about said housing and in engagement with said driving gear, said second gear being in driving engagement with a third gear carried within saidhousing, said third gear being in' driving engagement with a gear mounted on said shaft; said housing being rotatable; means for rotating said housing whereby the speed of rotation of the shaft is a component of the speed of the driving gear and the rotational speed of the housing.

3. A running adjustment means for a driven shaft adapted to be rotated by a driving gear comprising a driving connection between said gear and said shaft, means for advancing and retarding said shaft without axial displacement thereof, said means comprising a housing surrounding and concentric with said shaft; a second gear mounted on and surrounding said housing and rotatable about said housing and in engagement with said driving gear, said second gear being in driving engagement with a third gear carried within said housing, said third gear being in driving engagement with a gear mounted on said shaft; said housing being rotatable; means for rotating said housing whereby the speed of rotation of the shaft'i a component of the speed of the driving gear and the rotational speed of the housing, said means comprising an additional gear fixedly attached to said housing and concentric therewith, and an additional driving gear in engagement with said additional gear and selectively operable to efiect rotationthereof.

4. A running adjustment means for a driven shaft adapted to be rotated by a driving gear comprising a driving connection between 'said gear and said shaft, means for advancing and retarding said shaft without axial displacement thereof, said means comprising a housing surrounding and concentric with said shaft; a second gear mounted on and surrounding said housing and rotatable about said housing and in engagement with said driving gear, said second gear being in driving engagement with another gear carried by an additional shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted on said housing and carrying a third gear within said housing, said third gear being in driving engagement with a gear mounted on said shaft; said housing being rotatable; means for rotating said housing whereby the speed of rotation of the shaft is a component of the speed of the driving gear and the rotational speed of the housing, said means comprising an additional g'ear fixedly atached to said housing and concentric therewith, and an additional driv- CHARLES JACOBSON. 

